EV ZoneVauxhall
Reliability
Are Vauxhalls reliable? Common problems, MOT data, and full history checks for used Vauxhall vehicles.
65.7% MOT pass rate based on 2.5 million tests.
Common faults and reliability ranked across 25 Vauxhall models.
Full vehicle history checks for £9.99 with no subscription.
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Are Vauxhall cars reliable?
Vauxhall vs other premium brands
Vauxhall vehicles pass their MOT at 65.7%, seven points below the national average of 72.4%. Among mainstream brands, Vauxhall sits at the bottom of the comparison group here. Toyota leads at 75.0%, Volkswagen at 72.9%, with Ford, Nissan, and Peugeot clustered around 66-69%.
The Vauxhall range is dominated by the Corsa and Astra, which together account for close to half of all UK Vauxhall MOT tests. Both pass below the national average. Newer models like the Mokka and Insignia perform better but sit in lower volumes.
Reliability data shows part of the picture. A vehicle history check reveals the rest, including outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, and mileage discrepancies.
What is the Vauxhall MOT pass rate by age?
Pass rate at each vehicle age, from 3 to 20 years old. National average shown for comparison.
Vauxhall pass rates sit below the national average at every age from 3 through 20. Newer Vauxhalls (3 to 5 years old) pass at 82 to 85%, compared with the national average of 86 to 89%. The gap holds through the middle years: at age 12, Vauxhalls pass at 61% vs 66% nationally.
By 20 years old, Vauxhalls pass at 52% vs 58% nationally. This is a consistent-underperformance pattern that reflects a mix of harder use, longer ownership periods, and older-average vehicle age in the surviving Vauxhall fleet.
What are the most common Vauxhall faults?
Top 10 MOT failure categories for Vauxhall, ranked by frequency. National percentage shown alongside.
Top 5 specific Vauxhall failure reasons
These are the specific MOT examiner findings most frequently recorded on Vauxhall vehicles, along with what they mean.
- Fractured or broken (6.58% of Vauxhall failures)
A suspension arm, spring, or bracket has snapped or cracked. The affected part must be replaced before the vehicle is roadworthy.
- Not working (6.14% of Vauxhall failures)
A lamp, indicator, or electrical component that has completely stopped functioning. Usually a blown bulb or faulty sensor.
- Inoperative in the case of multiple lamps or light sources (4.50% of Vauxhall failures)
More than one bulb or LED in a lamp cluster has failed, so the unit no longer meets minimum brightness. Often a headlight or brake light LED strip.
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (3.29% of Vauxhall failures)
One or more tyres worn below the legal minimum tread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
- Ball joint dust cover damaged or deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.97% of Vauxhall failures)
Vauxhall's failure profile is close to the national average, with suspension slightly elevated (22.0% vs 20.7%) and lamps and electrical marginally lower (22.9% vs 24.6%). Brakes at 13.4% are also close to the national 13.0%. Vauxhall failures are broad-based rather than concentrated in any one area, a signature pattern for high-mileage, older-average fleets.
Which Vauxhall models are most reliable?
Top 15 Vauxhall models ranked by MOT test volume. Pass rate shown for each. Green bars beat the national average of 72.4%. Red bars sit below it.
| Model | Tests | Pass rate | Most common failure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Corsa | 679,158 | 61.1% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Vauxhall Astra | 511,727 | 65.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Vauxhall Mokka | 193,115 | 66.1% | Suspension |
| Vauxhall Insignia | 160,658 | 67.3% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Vauxhall Zafira | 155,878 | 61.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Vauxhall Vivaro | 132,203 | 54.2% | Suspension |
| Vauxhall Meriva | 72,390 | 61.5% | Suspension |
| Vauxhall Combo | 71,473 | 60.0% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Vauxhall Adam | 52,330 | 65.7% | Steering |
| Vauxhall Viva | 33,977 | 78.7% | Tyres |
| Vauxhall Grandland | 31,806 | 80.0% | Tyres |
| Vauxhall Crossland | 31,452 | 79.2% | Body, chassis, structure |
| Vauxhall Agila | 29,260 | 60.3% | Suspension |
| Vauxhall Vectra | 19,818 | 55.5% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
| Vauxhall Antara | 16,433 | 53.2% | Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment |
The Insignia (67.3%) and Mokka (66.1%) lead the popular Vauxhall range. The Astra sits at 65.3% and the Corsa, Vauxhall's highest-volume model with 679,000 tests, at 61.1%. The Zafira MPV also sits around 61%. The Vivaro van at 54.2% and Combo van at 60.0% pull the range further down. Fleet vans see harder use than passenger cars.
How many miles do Vauxhall vehicles typically cover?
Average recorded mileage at each MOT test, by vehicle age. National average shown for comparison.
Vauxhall vehicles cover slightly lower mileage than the national average at every age. At 3 years old they average 26,000 miles vs 28,000 nationally. By age 20 they average 109,000 miles vs 111,000. The gap is small, suggesting Vauxhall owners are broadly average-mileage drivers.
Our Premium Vehicle Reports compare the recorded mileage at every MOT test to flag discrepancies. A drop in recorded mileage between two tests is a strong signal that the odometer may have been tampered with.
Are there any Vauxhall safety recalls?
Safety recalls are issued by Vauxhall when a manufacturing defect could affect the safety of the vehicle. The DVSA records every UK recall and links it to affected vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Recalls are free for the owner to have fixed at a franchised dealer.
Recall lists change over time as new issues are identified and old ones are resolved. For that reason we do not maintain a static list here. When you check a Vauxhall via Brumble, the report shows any outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that still need action on that specific vehicle.
How do you check a Vauxhall's full history?
Before you buy any used Vauxhall, a full history check protects you from problems that a physical inspection would miss. Here is what a Premium Vehicle Report from Brumble covers.
Has this Vauxhall been written off?
An insurance write-off means the car has been declared uneconomical to repair after an accident, fire, or flood. The report shows the category (Cat A, B, N, or S), the date, and the cause. Cat A and B are permanently unroadworthy. Cat N and S can legally return to the road but often carry hidden damage and are worth significantly less.
Is there outstanding finance on this Vauxhall?
If the previous owner has an active HP, PCP, or loan agreement secured against the car, the finance company legally owns it until the balance is paid off. Buying a car with outstanding finance means the finance company can repossess it, even after you have paid the seller in full. The report checks with Experian for any active finance agreements.
Has this Vauxhall been reported stolen?
The Police National Computer records stolen vehicles. The report checks the PNC for any active stolen marker. Buying a stolen vehicle means the police can seize it and return it to the rightful owner, with no compensation.
Has the mileage been tampered with?
Every MOT test records the current mileage. The report shows the full mileage history from every recorded test and flags any drops or unusually flat periods. A drop between tests is a strong signal the odometer has been clocked. A car worth £15,000 with 60,000 miles on the clock might be worth £10,000 if the true mileage is 120,000.
Has this Vauxhall been used as a taxi or private hire vehicle?
Ex-taxis and private hire vehicles have typically covered high mileage under harder use than a private car of the same age. Insurers may view them as higher risk, and resale value is significantly lower. The report checks whether the vehicle has ever been registered as a taxi or private hire vehicle.
What is this Vauxhall worth?
The report includes current trade, retail, and private-sale valuations based on the vehicle's make, model, trim, mileage, and condition. Use it to check whether the asking price is fair before you negotiate.
Check any Vauxhall's full history for £9.99. No subscription.
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What should you check before buying a used Vauxhall?
Four practical steps before you hand over any money.
- 1
Check the MOT history
Every UK vehicle has a free MOT test history showing every pass, fail, advisory, and recorded mileage. Use the Brumble MOT checker to see what previous inspections found.
- 2
Check the vehicle's full history
A Premium Vehicle Report covers outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-offs, mileage discrepancies, safety recalls, and valuation. £9.99, no subscription.
- 3
Compare insurance before you commit
Vauxhall insurance groups vary widely by model and trim. Get a car insurance quote before you buy to avoid nasty surprises after the sale.
- 4
Check the tax status
Confirm the car is currently taxed, or you may not be able to drive it away. The Brumble tax checker shows current tax status and when tax is next due.
Vauxhall Reliability FAQs
Source: Brumble analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2025 test year (published June 2026). Class 3 and 4 vehicles with 5,000+ tests per model. Published under Open Government Licence v3.0.